Mama said, don’t let the boys near.
Papa said, not before the bull is in the shed.
Teacher said, I will disgrace you if I ever find out.
And me, I wondered what all the fuss was about.
∼
There was silence, then there wasn’t.
There was singing, the sonorous humming of creaking springs.
There was silence, then there wasn’t.
There was drumming, the clanging beats of wooden boards.
Then there was silence.
∼
Mama said it has one purpose.
Papa said it has another.
Teacher said both are plausible.
I wondered if they hadn’t missed something.
∼
There was silence, the mind swirled.
Emotions danced a gig, the body rolled in confusion.
There was silence, the body weaved.
Fabrics lay in cords, hearts tied to bedposts.
Then there was silence.
∼
I said, let words be spoken before the time,
And silence the reward of peace abide.
Devoid of mirrors with broken emotions,
or shadows of stringed-on by-standers.
Let words be spoken after the time,
And silence the reward of peace
on the altar of guileless love transcending a moment.
∼
Mama nodded,
Papa reflected,
Teacher said, ‘of this sort I wholly approve’.
